Saying goodbye is such a difficult thing to do. I have never been good at it. I don't like being away from those I love. Some goodbyes are just for a short time and some are longer. All goodbyes are temporary though. What a blessing it is to know that we can be with those we love forever. What a beautiful gift we have been given from our Savior.
Michelle's memorial service was a beautiful tribute to the life she lived. She touched many lives and left behind a legacy of love.
Her family found a beautiful spot for her to rest up in the mountains at one of her favorite spots. What a difficult day that was for everyone.
For several days following Michelle's passing little Jake would ask where Shell was, as we were coming and going from their house. Each time my heart broke for the great loss we all are experiencing. He misses her too. She was always so attentive and affectionate towards my kids. It became somewhat of a regular thing in the mornings, after I got the kids on the bus, for Jake and I to stop in for a short visit with Michelle. I loved those few minutes in the morning and so did Jake.
This beautiful talk given by Elder Worthlin brings me a tremendous amount of comfort.
Michelle's family at Helen Hunt Falls
The gorgeous view
Kent and Beth planting some tulips
When the neighborhood heard about Michelle's devastating news about having to go on Hospice everyone decided to put out silver and white balloons. The backyards and the path from the Twiggs house out of the neighborhood was lined with balloons letting her family know they were in our thoughts and prayers. My kids would count every day how many people had balloons out. I think the number got close to 20. What a wonderful and supportive neighborhood we live in!
On Nov. 22nd Jamie organized a special concert for Michelle in their home. John Denver is one of their favorite musicians. They danced to "Annie's Song" at their wedding. A great guy named Ted Vigil was kind enough to fly in from Seattle. Doesn't he look so much like John Denver! It was an amazing evening that I felt so blessed to be apart of. There were moments of joy and celebration and some very tender moments of love and hope and sadness. I felt the Spirit so strong in a home full of close friends and family that more than anything shared a Christlike love for this sweet mother who has been such a tremendous example to us all.
This is not one of the most flattering pictures of me ever taken. My eyes are all red and puffy and well...I'll just say that the angle isn't the most flattering. Michelle took this picture of us on the night of the concert. She suffered tremendous pain the last several weeks, and this day happened to be one of her worst. Even in her pain, she asked me to hand her the camera so she could take a picture for us. She was laying down because it hurt too much to sit up. For me this is just a reminder of the kind of friend she was to me. Loving. Selfless. Thoughtful. Kind.
